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Every time I manually update firefox, it reinstalls the automatic update malware "Mozilla Maintenance Service". I can't stop this malware from being installed with my browser every time I update Firefox. I call it malware because its not wanted, and it behaves like malware by secretly downloading content without my consent and then shutting down my browser when it finishes by blocking access to all new tabs.

I've tried adding policies to stop auto updates, but Mozilla Maintenance Service ignores all policies. I'm going to see if I can contact AVG and explain to them that Mozilla Maintenance Service is malware and see if I can get it classified as such to see if that'll finally get through to someone because I'm sick of this crap constantly being installed and forcing things on me whenever they want and not when I want.

Now after this update, every google search forces open my location service trying to force me to give location rights. This update is even more malware than all the other updates before hand. Firefox is getting extremely dangerous.

Desired behaviour Please add an option that would make Firefox update only when:

• a) Firefox is completely closed — no open windows, no active profiles, no running `firefox.exe` processes of any kind.
• b) A Windows reboot or shutdown has occurred.

Current problem Currently, Firefox sometimes initiates an update while a session is still open — for example, when opening a new profile or seemingly at random. This interrupts active work and forces the update at an inconvenient time, meaning all tabs and workflow are disrupted.

Suggested improvements

• A good extra option could be modelled on Windows Update, which provides a series of delay settings.
• The update should wait until all `firefox.exe` processes have ended (currently, opening a new profile can trigger an update even with another profile running).
• A forced update that disrupts current work feels overly aggressive, especially when the update is not mission-critical. Even if it is critical, the timing should be a user choice.

Alternative approaches

• A selection could be provided to wait until the user has naturally finished, with all instances closed by choice, or until the computer is restarted after a Windows boot.
• A popup could appear with options to delay, or a notification saying "Update needed — please close browsers." There is no need to force this.

Workaround difficulty At present, the only way to achieve this is by writing a script. This overly aggressive update behavior could instead be controlled by a simple setting for advanced users. Being overly concerned about security to this level, should be a user choice not force. Turning it off and making it manual is still not as helpful as automation.

Great work, I just noticed this occurring several times in the few months mid session. All good wishes

I don't know who was the absolute [edited] to have the idea of forcing updates while the user is still working on the browser by shutting the browser down. Can someone else help me understand how to stop this nonsense??

And yes, I had the option "Check for updates but let you choose to install them" selected, and I'm still being molested by this forced restart """feature"""!

Every time I'm in the middle of an important work session, Firefox will suddenly refuse to open new tabs and prevent the ones that are already open from connecting and receiving updates. It erase private tabs and messes up everything!

I was in a call with my boss, and it got dropped because Firefox decided to update?? And DEMANDED that I close the browser IMMEDIATELY to continue using it????? What the hell???????????

I've only been running into this problem in the past few months, and I'm honestly shocked by how little uproar I'm seeing online about this bug. This is by far the worst think I've ever seen in a browser.

Anyway, I appreciate any help. I saw a trick to permanently disable updates, but I don't want to disable them. I just want them to be installed either when I CHOOSE or when the bloody browser is NOT in use!

End user here, with Thunderbird for years, now on several machines that I use. Keep getting the warning window about "ESR" change. I have no wish to re-install Thunderbird, on each machine, nor to go beyond the normal updates. Can't tell which "channel" I need to choose. Unwilling to just guess. Could re-install on all five machines, if that's truly necessary. Hope not. An explanation of the simplest way to dispose of this issue, is the help I'm looking for. I think I'm currently set to the lower case address. And arranged such that each machine updates to the current content.

I think Firefox is probably the best browser on the internet. But one major flaw that has always been with it but has never been fixed is that unlike other browsers, Firefox updates on startup. It may only take a few moments, but it's not very pleasant for the user to wait even a few moments for the browser to launch. It seems better to either update in a separate process like other browsers, or at least give the user the option to decide to update at startup or in the background like other browsers.

Firefox keeps making me restart nearly every day. I had a form I was trying to fill out and because of the restart I lost it 4 times! How many updates are you doing "in the background" that opening a new tab tells me to restart and then I lose stuff. Surely you are not updating every day.

I got an eMail notification about an upcoming update for Thunderbird snap/flatpak configs, but I don't see any entry for Thunderbird in my "~/.var/app/" directory. There is an entry for Firefox, but nothing for Thunderbird. Yet Thunderbird still updates regularly and successfully.

What should I do, in order to conform to the eMail notification instructions?

Running the command "snap info thunderbird" returns the following --

name: thunderbird summary: Mozilla Thunderbird email application publisher: Canonical✓ store-url: https://snapcraft.io/thunderbird contact: https://www.thunderbird.net/contact/ license: unset description: |

 **ANNOUNCEMENT:** The snap channels are changing. Action is required by July 21, 2026
 to stay on ESR.
 Read more about this change:
 https://support.mozilla.org/kb/channel-choices-thunderbird-snap-and-flatpak
 
 Thunderbird is a free email application that’s easy to set up and customize - and
 it’s loaded with great features!

commands:

 - thunderbird

snap-id: k1Ml1O9GzSO2QftV0ZlWSbUfQ78nN460 tracking: latest/stable refresh-date: 12 days ago, at 06:38 CST channels:

 latest/stable:     140.12.0esr-1 2026-06-16 (1155) 221MB -
 latest/candidate:  140.12.1esr-1 2026-06-29 (1170) 221MB -
 latest/beta:       ↑                                     
 latest/edge:       ↑                                     
 monthly/stable:    151.0-1       2026-05-20 (1120) 226MB -
 monthly/candidate: 151.0-1       2026-06-05 (1146) 226MB -
 monthly/beta:      153.0b4-2     2026-06-30 (1173) 239MB -
 monthly/edge:      ↑                                     
 esr/stable:        140.12.0esr-1 2026-06-16 (1155) 221MB -
 esr/candidate:     140.12.1esr-1 2026-06-29 (1170) 221MB -
 esr/beta:          ↑                                     
 esr/edge:          ↑                                     

installed: 140.12.0esr-1 (1155) 221MB -

a,most weekly when I try to open a new tab I'm told an update started in the background and I need to restart firefox to continue working. I can't open any new tabs or go to a new website unless I restart. Is there a way to run updates on MY Schedule rather than having this happen. a notice that an update is ready to be installed rather than per-emotively just starting one would be polite and appreciated.. Just 'starting' it in the background without telling me makes you guys look like Microsoft rather than Mozilla.

I have my Firefox update settings on "Check for updates but choose when to install". When I get the pop-up to advise that there is an update available I select the "Update later" option but the update loads regardless of my choice. This happens on both my PC and laptop. I use a variety of online software for my work and frequently one or more will stop working or crash and Firefox advises that the problem is caused by an update needing to restart. The reason I choose to Update Later is so that I can just get on with my work and then update Firefox when it suits me. Currently, I end up having to shut down all open browser windows and then go through and sign in to all required windows and tabs again before I can continue with work. Needless to say this is VERY ANNOYING. Please advise why the updates are loading automatically when I have set my preference set to Update Later.